Sunderland star David Vaughan homing in on big games

David Vaughan says Sunderland must make the most of their upcoming home games if they are to start climbing the table

David Vaughan says Sunderland must make the most of their upcoming home games if they are to start climbing the table.

Seven of the Black Cats’ first 11 league matches have been road trips, but that imbalance will be corrected over the next three weeks as they look forward to playing four of their next five games on home soil.

First up at the Stadium of Light are high-flying West Bromwich Albion on Saturday lunchtime, followed by basement side QPR on Tuesday.

Sunderland start December with a long journey to Norwich before another home double against against Chelsea and Reading.

Wales midfielder Vaughan said: “We have had two tough away games against Fulham and Everton in the last two weeks and we have played seven of our 11 games so far this season away from home.

“Now we have four of our next five games at home and it is up to us to capitalise.

“If we can win our next two games and get momentum going, we can start climbing the table.

“We went on a run in December last season when the new boss came in and it set us off.

“There are a lot of games coming up next month and we need to put together another good set of results.”

The Black Cats go into the West Brom game on the back of an excellent 3-1 victory at Fulham, but the Baggies will also arrive on Wearside on a high after their weekend win over Chelsea.

Vaughan added: “It was a massive result for us on Sunday.

“We thoroughly deserved the three points after our second-half performance.

“There has been something lacking but hopefully we have now turned the corner and we can go on from here.

“It is going to be a tough game because West Brom are flying high after beating Chelsea.

“They have had a great start to the season and they will not be fearing anyone.

“It is down to us to concentrate on what we can do and try to hurt them and get the three points.”

Vaughan is still feeling his way towards full match fitness after missing the start of the season following surgery on a trapped nerve in his stomach.

He has started two games in the Capital One Cup but has yet to start in the league, although he has made half-a-dozen appearances from the substitutes’ bench.

The 29-year-old played as an overage player in Sunderland Under-21s' draw against Newcastle at the Stadium of Light on Monday, completing the full 90 minute.

He says all he needs now is an extended run in the first-team to get back up to speed. Vaughan added: “Derbies are always competitive, even at under-21 level, so it was a good game for me and the 90 minutes will be good for my fitness levels.

“It’s still a big jump going from the under-21ss to first-team level, though.

“There have been a few games when I have come on for the final 20 minutes or so, but by then sometimes the teams can be tiring a bit and the tempo is not quite the same as when you play the whole match.

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